The 25 Best New York City Novels

Writers will forever be inspired by Gotham.

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Complex Original

Image via Complex Original

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Like Hollywood attracts screenwriters, New York attracts writers. Half the people you meet have a novel they tinker at when everyone else is asleep. Thankfully, only some of them will bore you with a description of the plot and its surely autobiographical characters. But because of all the great novels to come from Gotham, plenty of hacks continue to line up for their shot.

These are the greatest the city has produced, the 25 best New York City novels.

Written by Brenden Gallagher (@muddycreekU), Ross Scarano (@RossScarano), and Greg Topscher (@gtopscher).

RELATED: The 50 Best New York City Movies

25. Bright Lights, Big City (1984)

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24. Bang the Drum Slowly (1956)

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23. Open City (2012)

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22. Ragtime (1975)

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21. A Tree Grows in Brooklyn (1943)

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20. City of Night (1963)

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19. Veronica (2005)

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18. A History of New York (1809)

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17. The Bell Jar (1963)

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16. Call It Sleep (1934)

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15. Passing (1929)

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14. A Meaningful Life (1971)

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13. The House of Mirth (1905)

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12. Lush Life (2008)

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11. The Easter Parade (1976)

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10. The Bonfire of the Vanities (1987)

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9. American Psycho (1991)

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8. Motherless Brooklyn (1999)

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7. Breakfast at Tiffany's (1958)

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6. Last Exit to Brooklyn (1964)

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5. The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Clay (2000)

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4. The Catcher in the Rye (1951)

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3. Another Country (1962)

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2. Underworld (1997)

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1. Invisible Man (1952)

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